Hearts installs state-of-the-art pitch

Scottish soccer side Heart of Midlothian FC has addressed problems with its playing surface by completely reconstructing groundworks and installing a state-of-the-art hybrid turf at Tynecastle Park.

In February 2017, the club replaced its previous problematic pitch with a temporary new surface but decided to invest in a completely new system in the spring of 2018. As soon as the final home league game finished, work began on overhauling the pitch.

STRI, a design and consultancy specialist of sports surfaces, was enlisted to oversee the reconstruction and design of a new pitch to include undersoil heating and new drainage and irrigation systems.

Construction works at Tynecastle Park were carried out by Carrick Sports, while the hybrid reinforced SIS Grass pitch was provided by SIS Pitches – which recently provided six of the 12 playing surfaces for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

A tight deadline was set to complete the project during the off-season between May 9 and July 24, in time for a full debut when Hearts would take on Cowdenbeath in a Betfred Cup match.

“As is always the case with stadium reconstruction projects, the timeframe for delivery was tight, and access restrictions proved challenging. However, the club, STRI and Carrick Sports worked in collaboration to overcome these issues, and in association with SIS Grass, have produced a terrific surface that Heart of Midlothian FC can be proud of,” said Gordon Howat STRI’s project manager.

In addition to the new surface, the club has also installed a first-of-its-kind environmental monitoring system where live moisture levels positioned across the pitch will automatically collect data, including air temperature in the stadium and light levels for grass growth.”

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